The Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict on petitions concerning stray dogs in Delhi on August 22. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria had reserved its decision on August 14.
During the hearing, Justice Vikram Nath noted that while Parliament formulates rules and laws, their implementation is often lacking.
He remarked, “On one side, humans are suffering, while on the other, animal lovers are standing in support.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, emphasised that people do not hate animals, but they cannot accommodate them in every household.
He highlighted the risks to children playing outdoors, citing instances where stray dogs have attacked them.
“A vocal minority speaks in favour of stray dogs, while the silent majority, including children, suffers serious harm,” Mehta added.
He also questioned individuals who identify as animal lovers but share videos of meat consumption, pointing to contradictions in their stance.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the petitioner, urged strict compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules and parliamentary laws.
He criticised municipal authorities for failing to build adequate shelters and carry out effective sterilisation programmes, despite allegedly misusing the available funds.
Sibal further argued that taking suo motu action without prior notice is inappropriate and requested that the court stay the order before continuing the hearing.
Master Action Plan for Stray Dogs
Following orders to relocate stray dogs to shelter homes, three central ministries, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, have prepared a Master Action Plan.
According to the plan, India hosts an estimated 1.53 crore stray dogs, and authorities aim to sterilise and vaccinate 70 per cent of them within a year.
The Supreme Court is also reviewing a challenge to the Rajasthan High Court’s order regarding stray dogs.
The petition, filed by Supreme Court lawyer Vishal Tiwari, contests the directive to remove all stray dogs from the state’s streets.
Following the Supreme Court’s earlier decision, the Rajasthan High Court on August 11 instructed municipal authorities to take immediate action.
The case continues to draw attention to the delicate balance between human safety and animal welfare, raising questions about policy enforcement and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Also Read: CJI BR Gavai: Court Cannot Remain Powerless If Governors Withhold Bills Indefinitely
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